On January 9, 2021, the Forum of Journalism and Social Development was successfully held in Mingde Building with a theme of inheritance and innovation of the journalism and communication discipline in the context of building the New Liberal Arts.

Experts from 21 universities focused on the construction of the journalism and communication discipline and the trend of interdisciplinary integration, and discussed the theoretical research of the field, discipline development and other issues. The forum is held both online and offline.

The following people made speeches: professor Cai Wen, Director of Journalism and Social Development Research Center, Renmin University of China; Prof. Li Pei, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication, Southwest University of Political Science and Law; Prof. Zhou Yong, Executive Dean, School of Journalism, Renmin University of China.

They said the inheritance and innovation of the journalism and communication discipline in the context of the New Liberal Arts is both a priority and a difficulty for the discipline development. And the rapid growth of related fields and professional technologies has brought both opportunities and challenges to managers.

At the same time, they proposed ideas for cooperation in constructing a practical curriculum platform, building a think tank for the Institute of Theoretical Ecology, and co-construction and sharing of resources.

There were four keynote speeches at the forum delivered by professors. The experts shared the experiences and practices of each institution based on the basic situation of discipline construction and characteristics of the discipline development.

The following suggestions were put forward: to promote the development and innovation of interdisciplinary subjects, to adhere to the core of the subject, to lay a solid foundation, to cultivate students' national sentiments, to promote the integration of liberal arts and science, and to pay attention to the local conditions.

“Every university has its smart move, and many practices are instructive and referential. New Liberal Arts is a core issue facing journalism and communication in China in the new era. We look forward to working with all universities to deal with it and promote the development of the discipline”, said Prof. Zhang Huifeng, secretary of the Party committee of Journalism School of Renmin University of China as a conclusion of the forum.

The forum echoed the Ministry of Education's Declaration on the Construction of New Liberal Arts, aiming to comprehensively promote the development of journalism and communication discipline in universities, promote the new norm of journalism and communication in the context of new liberal arts, and build a new platform for the interaction and promotion of journalism and communication theory and practice.

The forum was jointly organized by the Journalism and Social Development Research Center of Renmin University of China, School of Journalism of Renmin University of China, Journalism and Communication Committee of China Association of Higher Education and School of Journalism and Communication of Southwest University of Political Science and Law.

Prof. Wang Runze, Executive Director of the Center for Journalism and Social Development of Renmin University of China; Prof. Xu Xiangdong, Deputy Director of the Center for Journalism and Social Development of Renmin University of China, and Prof. Li Biao, Deputy Director also attended the forum.

Photo: Zhang Jiefan Hu Yingying

Author: Hu YingYing

Editor: Zou Meiyu，Lin Qianyu

Translator: Zhang Zihan

Instructor: Wang Runze, Sun Quan, Xu XiangDong, Wu YiXiang